It gives me great pleasure to know that the IRAS fraternity of Southern Railway, South Western
Railway and East Coast Railway are celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of the service through a Seminar
on "Management of Change in Indian Railways" at Chennai on 28th January 2005.
The Indian Railway Accounts Service has been playing a sterling role in managing finances of one
of the largest Railway systems of the world with distinction for the past 75 years. During this period,
Indian Railways have seen several structural changes, which has necessitated far reaching reforms in
the financial management of this great organization.
While the IRAS officers have been pioneers in harnessing Information Technology as an effective
management tool as early as the 1970s, during the past decade they have been instrumental in heralding
several alternative financing options for Railway projects, in departure to the traditional government-
funding system.
Currently, the Indian Railways have embarked upon an ambitious Accounting Reforms project,
which would professionalise our financial management even further.
In this evolving scenario, this seminar assumes great significance. The deliberations of the seminar
will, I am sure, give the Railways fresh direction to face the financial challenges in the days ahead.
I wish the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of IRAS all success.
MESSAGE
(S.R. Chaudhuri)
S.R. Chaudhuri
General Manager
General Manager's Office
East Coast Railway
Rail Vihar, Chandrasekharpur,
Bhubaneswar - 751 023
